Silly gain question

[Kerfoot32]

So each track has a fader knob obviously. But there is also a little line on the audio file that by default says gain is 0.0db. I can pull it down and the volume lowers. Is that the exact same thing as lowering the faders or will I get worse sound quality if I pull that gain line down? Hopefully it's the same thing because that will save me a lot of tracks.

 

[PRHunt]

Not a silly question, but can you be a bit more specific?

I assume you are referring to software - what are you using? And can you explain, or post a screen shot, of the "little line on the audio file"?

Cheers! Paul

 

[Bobbsy]

If you're describing what I think you are, various DAWs call it a "Gain Envelope" or "Rubber Band". Yes, it does the same thing as the fader but more as well--you should be able to set points on it to raise and lower the gain as you requre, thereby automating the mixing process. In effect, it does the same job as automation on the fader--once you have the gain envelopes set on every track, you just sit back and listen to the track mix itself.

...that's if I understand your description properly!

 

[Dogbreath]

yeah, I'm not sure of the question here but on my board, "gain" and "trim" are the same thing.
Gain is my first input stage. What I normally do is leave my track fader at "unity" and adjust my trim (gain) for my input signal with that.
Usually around -12 to -18.

And if this has nothing to do with what you're asking, just pretend I'm smart.

 

[bouldersoundguy]

Gain/trim is generally before any inserted processing. Volume is generally after any inserted processing. If you have anything level dependent (like dynamics processing) inserted then using gain/trim will sound different from using volume.

I often split up the audio block and adjust the gains of the individual parts to even out gross level variations in order to drive compressors more consistently. Then I might use volume to push parts like solos. But I'm not that rigid. Sometimes I want do drive a compressor harder for a solo so I push gain instead of volume.

Also, If I need to do a punch a while after the original take I may need to adjust the gain of the punched part to match the rest. Sometimes it's necessary to normalize the block then adjust the gain.

 

[Bobbsy]

My interpretation was that the OP's reference to "a little line on the audio file" was referring to something other than the gain trims on a mixer--but I guess we need to hear more from him.